Extension limiter, reinforced stopper and spacer for drawer glides

ABSTRACT

The extension limiter for drawer glides prevents a mobile track of a drawer glide from being fully extended with respect to the middle track of the drawer glide until a user takes a specific action to release the mobile track. The extension limiter for drawer glides is a safety measure to prevent accidental tipping of filing cabinets and the like. Additionally, a fixed track for a drawer glide is provided with a reinforced stopper positioned adjacent a rear end of the fixed track to prevent a rear end of the middle track from moving rearward beyond the rear end of the fixed track. A drawer glide is further provided with at least one spacer including a head portion and a peg. The peg extends outwardly from the head portion and removably snaps into a screw hole of the drawer glide so that the head portion is flush with the glide.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure of the present patent application relates to glides for drawers, and particularly to an extension limiter, reinforced stopper and spacer for drawer glides that provide an extension limiter for drawer glides, as well as a reinforced stopper for drawer glides, and also a spacer for drawer glides.

2. Description of the Related Art

Drawer glides (also sometimes referred to as “drawer slides”) are telescoping supports for mounting a drawer to an inner wall of a filing cabinet, desk or the like. A typical drawer has one drawer glide on either side. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional prior art drawer glide 100. Drawer glide 100 includes a mobile track 102 (drawer part), a middle track 104, and a fixed track 106 (cabinet part). When installed, the fixed track 106 is attached or affixed to the inner wall of a filing cabinet or the like, and the mobile track 102 is attached or affixed to one side of the drawer. The middle track 104 is slidably mounted on the fixed track 106 using an axially sliding part 108, which typically contains ball bearings held within a bearing retainer. Similarly, the mobile track 102 and the middle track 104 are slidably connected by a similar axially sliding part 110.

The mobile track 102 has a retainer 112 that engages a block 114 of the middle track 104, stopping movement of the mobile track 102 at a fixed place to prevent the mobile track 102 (and the drawer) from becoming disengaged from the fixed track 106 (and the filing cabinet). The retainer 112 has a protuberance 126, and the block 114 has a block plate 128 that engages the protuberance 126 when the mobile track 102 moves forward to its point of maximum extension. This engagement prevents the mobile track 102 from detaching from the middle track 104 and, by extension, from the fixed track 106.

The retainer 112 prevents the mobile track 102 from becoming fully disengaged and is positioned such that the mobile track 102 may reach its point of maximum extension, resulting in the drawer being fully open. In filing cabinets, for example, when an upper drawer is fully open, there is a risk of accidental tipping of the filing cabinet. Since the drawer carries weight, the extension of the drawer out of the cabinet is an increase in lever arm of this weight, which is unsupported by a base, resulting in an ever-increasing torque as the drawer slides out. At maximum extension, the weight of the drawer may be such that there is insufficient counter-torque, resulting in accidental tipping of the cabinet. Present safety standards require the addition of ballast to the base of the cabinet in order to prevent such accidental tipping. However, the addition of this ballast is not only costly, but can cause damage to the cabinet during transportation, as well as structural damage to the cabinet during installation. Although the retainer 112 is designed to limit forward movement of the mobile track 102, it only stops such movement once the drawer has reached a fully open position. Conventional drawer glides do not include any way to allow, for example, only partial opening of the drawer in order to prevent accidental tipping.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3 , a stopper 122 is formed at the rear end of the fixed track 106. Typically, the stopper 122 is a rectangular piece made by cutting a U-shaped slit in the web 120 of the fixed track 106 and bending the rectangular piece up until the piece is perpendicular to the web 120. A cushioned bumper 124, typically made from rubber or the like, covers the stopper 122. Additionally, the rear end of the mobile track 102 has a reduced opening 116, and the front end of the mobile track 102 has a bending plate 118. When the mobile track 102 is pushed inward, the bending plate 118 contacts and pushes the block 114 of the middle track 104 until the mobile track 102 aligns with the fixed track 106, while the reduced opening 116 engages the stopper 122 and cushioned bumper 124 to stop the mobile track 102 from moving any further inward.

Since conventional stoppers 122 are typically in the form of a small piece of metal bent up from the web 120, they often bend backwards due to the continual striking force from the rear of mobile track 102. Although this defect in design is well recognized, solutions are often in the form of after-market modifications, such as the addition of a block of a wood glued behind the stopper 122. Since such additional elements are added only after the assembly of the filing cabinet, it is extremely difficult to properly place any additional reinforcing element behind the stopper 122. At present, there is no reinforcement added to stoppers prior to the full assembly of the drawer glide and its corresponding furniture.

Further, since drawer glides are often manufactured separately from the article of furniture, so that a particular drawer glide design can be used with a wide variety of furniture, there is often a slight mismatch in contours or dimensions between the two. This often results in gaps between the fixed track and the inner wall to which the fixed track is secured. It is common in such situations to use “spacers”, which are typically pieces of plastic that are attached to the furniture side walls via screws or nails. Since the spacers are added only after manufacture, when the presence of the gap is apparent, the addition of the spacers can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Commercially available spacers are also of various sizes to accommodate drawer boxes and drawer glides of various dimensions, requiring the furniture manufacturer or retailer to select the appropriate spacer for each drawer type. Thus, an extension limiter, a reinforced stopper, and a spacer for drawer glides solving the aforementioned problems are desired.

SUMMARY

The extension limiter for drawer glides prevents a mobile track of a drawer glide from being fully extended with respect to the middle track of the drawer glide until a user takes a specific action to release the mobile track. The extension limiter for drawer glides is a safety measure to prevent accidental tipping of filing cabinets and the like. A drawer glide with the extension limiter includes a fixed track, a middle track slidably mounted to the fixed track, a mobile track slidably mounted to the middle track, and a user-actuated retainer mounted on the mobile track. The user-actuated retainer releasably engages an engaging member fixed to the middle track to releasably limit slidable movement of the mobile track with respect to the middle track.

For example, the user-actuated retainer may be substantially U-shaped, having a first leg with opposed fixed and free ends and a second leg with opposed fixed and free ends. The user-actuated retainer in this example also includes an engaging portion adjacent the fixed end of the second leg. The engaging portion is adapted for releasably engaging the engaging member. Further, a central portion is located adjacent the respective fixed ends of the first and second legs. The central portion is pivotally secured to the web of the mobile track. In this example, the free end of the first leg is adapted for contacting an outer flange of the mobile track. The first leg provides resilient tension between the user-actuated retainer and the outer flange of the mobile track when the second leg of the user-actuated retainer is pivoted to disengage the engaging portion from the engaging member.

As another example, the user-actuated retainer may include a housing and a lever, the lever having opposed first and second ends and a central portion. The central portion of the lever is pivotally attached within the housing, and the first and second ends each project out of the housing. In this example, the first end of the lever is adapted for releasably engaging the engaging member. In use, the user pivots the second end of the lever to releasably disengage the first end from the engaging member. The lever may be resiliently biased with respect to the housing.

In a further embodiment, a fixed track for a drawer glide is provided with a reinforced stopper. The reinforced stopper is positioned adjacent a rear end of the fixed track to prevent a rear end of the middle track from moving rearward beyond the rear end of the fixed track. Similar to a conventional fixed track of a drawer glide, the fixed track includes a web and a pair of opposed flanges. A stopper tab extends from the web perpendicular thereto. The stopper tab is positioned adjacent the rear end of the fixed track. At least one reinforcement rib is secured to the stopper tab and extends toward the rear end of the fixed track. A pair of the reinforcement ribs may be provided. The pair of reinforcement ribs may be respectively secured to opposed ends of the stopper tab.

In an additional embodiment, a drawer glide may be provided with one more spacers. Each spacer has a head portion and a peg. The peg is secured to the head portion and projects outwardly therefrom. The peg is adapted for removable attachment to a screw hole of the drawer glide. The head portion may have a planar configuration. The head portion may have, for example, a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm. In use, one or more spacers may engage the screw hole(s) of one side of the drawer glide, thus securing the drawer glide when there is a gap of approximately 1.5 mm (in this particular example). If a gap still exists, one or more spacers may also engage the screw hole(s) on the other side of the drawer glide, thus increasing coverage to approximately 3.0 mm. If a gap still exists for the drawer, then one or more spacers may also be used with the other drawer glide on the opposite side of the drawer, increasing coverage to approximately 4.5 mm (when applied to only one side of the other drawer glide), and up to 6.0 mm (when applied to both sides of the other drawer glide).

These and other features of the present subject matter will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of an exemplary drawer glide with an extension limiter, shown in a retained configuration, the middle part partially broken away to show details thereof.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the drawer glide of FIG. 1A, shown with the mobile or drawer attachment part in a fully extended configuration.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a drawer glide of the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a perspective attachment view of a fixed track of the prior art drawer glide of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a drawer glide with an extension limiter.

FIG. 4B is a side view of a user-actuated retainer of the drawer glide of FIG. 4A, shown with the housing partially broken away to show details thereof.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a fixed track (or cabinet attachment part) of an exemplary drawer glide with a reinforced stopper.

FIG. 5B is a partial side view of the fixed track of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary drawer glide and spacer kit.

FIG. 6B is a top view of a spacer of the drawer glide and spacer kit of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a side view of the spacer of FIG. 6B.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an extension limiter for drawer glides prevents a mobile track 12 (the part of the glide usually attached to the side of a drawer box) of a drawer glide from being fully extended with respect to the middle track 14 of the drawer glide until a user takes a specific action to release the mobile track 12. The extension limiter for drawer glides is a safety measure to prevent accidental tipping of filing cabinets and the like. As shown, the drawer glide with the extension limiter (designated generally as 10 in the drawings) includes a fixed track 16 (usually attached to the furniture case or cabinet), a middle track 14 slidably mounted to the fixed track 12, and a mobile track 12 slidably mounted to the middle track 14, similar to a conventional drawer glide. However, a user-actuated retainer 18 is mounted on the mobile track 12. The user-actuated retainer 18 releasably engages an engaging member 20 fixed to the middle track 14 to releasably limit slidable movement of the mobile track 12 with respect to the middle track 14. In FIG. 1A, the engaging member 20 is shown as relatively small rectangular block mounted adjacent the front end 50 of middle track 14. However, it should be understood that the engaging member 20 is shown for exemplary purposes only, and may have any suitable shape, positioning, and relative size and dimensions.

In the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the user-actuated retainer 18 has a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped configuration, including a first leg 22 having opposed fixed and free ends 30, 32, respectively, and a second leg 24 having opposed fixed and free ends 34, 36, respectively. The user-actuated retainer 18 in this example also includes an engaging portion 26 adjacent the fixed end 34 of the second leg 24. The engaging portion 26 is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the engaging member 20.

Further, a central portion 28 is located adjacent the respective fixed ends 30, 34 of the first and second legs 22, 24. The central portion 28 is pivotally attached to the web 40 of the mobile track 12. In this example, the free end 32 of the first leg 22 is adapted for contacting an outer flange 38 of the mobile track 12. The first leg 22 provides resilient or spring tension between the user-actuated retainer 18 and the outer flange 38 of the mobile track 12 when the second leg 24 of the user-actuated retainer 18 is pivoted to disengage the engaging portion 26 from the engaging member 20. In FIG. 1A, the mobile track 12 can only be partially extended because the engaging portion 26 of the user-actuated retainer 18 is engaging the engaging member 20. When the user wishes to fully extend the mobile track 12, the user pivots the second leg 24 upward (in the orientation of FIGS. 1A and 1B) against the resilient bias, releasing the engaging portion 26 from the engaging member 20. A handle or grasping member 42 may be mounted on the free end 36 of the second leg 24, as shown. With the second leg 24 pivoted upward, the user may pull the drawer out, thus pulling mobile track 12 outward with respect to the middle track 14 and the fixed track 16. When released, the second leg 24 returns to its original position due to the spring-biasing of the first leg 22 with respect to the outer flange 38.

Another example of an extension limiter is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In this embodiment, the drawer glide with an extension limiter, designated generally as 400 in the drawings, includes a fixed track 416, a middle track 414 slidably mounted to the fixed track 416, and a mobile track 412 slidably mounted to the middle track 414, similar to a conventional drawer glide and the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the user-actuated retainer 418 includes a housing 402 and a lever 404, the lever 404 having opposed first and second ends 406, 408, respectively, and a central portion 410. The central portion 410 of the lever 404 is pivotally attached to the housing 402, and the first and second ends 406, 408, respectively, each extend out of the housing 402. It should be understood that the configuration and relative dimensions of the housing 402 are shown for exemplary purposes only. It should be further understood that the housing 402 may be replaced by, for example, a plate.

In this example, the first end 406 of the lever 404 is adapted for releasably engaging the engaging member 420, which is attached to the middle track 414, as shown in FIG. 4A. In use, the user pivots the second end 408 of the lever 404 downward (in the orientation of FIGS. 4A and 4B) to releasably disengage the first end 406 from the engaging member 120. The lever 404 may be resiliently biased with respect to the housing 402 by a spring 419 or the like.

In the further embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B, a fixed track for a drawer glide with a reinforced stopper 200 is shown. In this embodiment, a reinforced stopper is positioned adjacent the rear end 210 of a fixed track 216 to prevent the rear end of the middle track of the drawer glide from moving rearward beyond the rear end 210 of the fixed track 216 when the drawer is slid into a closed position inside the cabinet, table, or other article of furniture. Similar to a conventional fixed track of a drawer glide, the fixed track 216 includes a web 202 and a pair of opposed flanges 204, 206 defining opposing channels. A stopper tab 208 is extends perpendicular to the web 202. The stopper tab 208 is positioned adjacent the rear end 210 of the fixed track 216. At least one reinforcement rib is secured to the stopper tab 208 and extends toward the rear end 210 of the fixed track 216. In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 6A and 6B, a pair of reinforcement ribs 212, 214 are shown, the pair of reinforcement ribs 212, 214 extending from opposed ends 218, 220 of the stopper tab 208. It will be understood, however, that the reinforcement ribs 212, 214 need not extend from the ends 218, 220 of the stopper tab 208, but may be placed more medially to brace the rear face of the stopper tab 208.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show a kit 300, which includes a drawer glide 308 provided with one more spacers. In FIG. 6A, three such spacers 302, 304 and 306 are shown, although it should be understood that the kit 300 may include any desired number of spacers. It should further be understood that each spacer is substantially identical. FIGS. 6B and 6C show one of the spacers 302. Spacer 302 has a head portion 316 and a substantially cylindrical peg 318. The peg 318 is secured to the head portion 316 and extends outwardly therefrom. The peg 318 is dimensioned and configured for snapping into a screw hole of the drawer glide 308, such as the exemplary screw holes 310, 312 and 314 shown in FIG. 6A. The head portion 316 may have a planar configuration. It should be understood that the substantially square shape of the head portion 316 is shown for exemplary purposes only. The head portion 316 is preferably thin and may have, for example, a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm. In use, one or more spacers may engage the screw hole(s) of one side of the drawer glide 308, thus securing the drawer glide 308 when there is a gap of approximately 1.5 mm, for example. If a gap still exists, one or more spacers may also engage the screw hole(s) of the other side of the drawer glide 308, thus increasing coverage to approximately 3.0 mm. If a gap still exists for the drawer, then one or more spacers may also be used with the other drawer glide on the opposite side of the drawer, increasing coverage to approximately 4.5 mm (when applied to only one side of the other drawer glide), and up to 6.0 mm (when applied to both sides of the other drawer glide).

It is to be understood that the extension limiter, reinforced stopper and spacer for drawer glides are not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter. 

1. A drawer glide with an extension limiter, comprising: a fixed track; a middle track slidably mounted to the fixed track; a mobile track slidably mounted to the middle track, the mobile track being adapted for attachment to a drawer; a user-actuated retainer mounted on the mobile track; and an engaging member fixed to the middle track, the user-actuated retainer releasably engaging the engaging member to releasably limit slidable movement of the mobile track with respect to the middle track to less than full extension in an outward direction until a user manually releases the user-actuated retainer to permit full extension of the mobile track and the drawer attached to the mobile track, wherein said slidable movement of the mobile track with respect to the middle track is limited to less than full extension in said outward direction at a position of at least one of a first outward screw hole, a second intermediate screw hole, and a third inner screw hole.
 2. The drawer glide with an extension limiter as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-actuated retainer is substantially U-shaped and comprises: a first leg having opposed fixed and free ends; a second leg having opposed fixed and free ends; an engaging portion adjacent the fixed end of the second leg, the engaging portion being adapted for releasably engaging the engaging member; and a central portion adjacent the respective fixed ends of the first and second legs, wherein the central portion is pivotally attached to the mobile track.
 3. The drawer glide with an extension limiter as recited in claim 2, wherein the free end of the first leg is adapted for contacting an outer flange of the mobile track, the first leg providing resilient tension between the user-actuated retainer and the outer flange of the mobile track when the second leg of the user-actuated retainer is pivoted to disengage the engaging portion from the engaging member.
 4. The drawer glide with an extension limiter as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-actuated retainer comprises: a housing; and a lever having opposed first and second ends and a central portion, the central portion of the lever being pivotally attached to the housing, and the first and second ends each extending out of the housing.
 5. The drawer glide with an extension limiter as recited in claim 4, wherein the first end of the lever is adapted for releasably engaging the engaging member when the mobile track is initially pulled out of the middle track to prevent full extension of the mobile track and the attached drawer, the user manually pivoting the second end of the lever to releasably disengage the first end of the lever from the engaging member to permit full extension of the mobile track and the attached drawer.
 6. The drawer glide with an extension limiter as recited in claim 5, wherein the lever is resiliently biased with respect to the housing.
 7. A fixed track for a drawer glide with a reinforced stopper, comprising: a fixed track for a drawer glide having a web defining lateral edges and a pair of opposed flanges extending from the edges of the web and defining opposed channels, the fixed track having a rear end ; a stopper tab extending perpendicular from the web, the stopper tab being positioned adjacent the rear end of the fixed track; and at least one reinforcement rib attached to the stopper tab and extending rearward toward the rear end of the fixed track in order to brace the stopper tab.
 8. The fixed track for a drawer glide with a reinforced stopper as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one reinforcement rib comprises a pair of reinforcement ribs respectively attached to opposed ends of the stopper tab.
 9. A drawer glide and spacer kit, comprising: a drawer glide having at least one screw hole defined therein; and at least one spacer having a head portion and a peg, the peg extending outwardly from the head portion, the peg being removably snapped into the at least one screw hole to mount the head portion flush with the drawer glide.
 10. The drawer glide and spacer kit as recited in claim 9, wherein the head portion of the at least one spacer has a planar body.
 11. The drawer glide and spacer kit as recited in claim 10, wherein the head portion of the at least one spacer has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm. 